Young South Koreans Blend AI Use with Rising Book Reading at Seoul Fair

South Korea’s 20- and 30-year-olds, the nation’s most active AI users, are also leading a surge in book reading, evident at the recent Seoul International Book Fair.

National surveys show South Korean adult reading dropped from 72.2% in 2013 to 38.5% in 2025, yet adults in their twenties and thirties remain the most avid readers, with rates of 75.3% and 66.4% respectively. Those same age groups also lead in generative-AI adoption, reaching 75.3% and 71.1% usage according to a science ministry study. The trend unfolded at the Seoul International Book Fair in late June, where crowds queued for publisher stalls, including a long line for a bookmark-based recommendation booth.

Minumsa, which saw a 23.8% revenue jump in 2025 despite a shrinking overall market, leveraged a YouTube channel and interactive events to draw younger fans. Visitors like 21-year-old Oh Da Young reported reading dozens of books annually, while 34-year-old Park Ji Yong uses Google’s Gemini to clarify literary references and generate personalized suggestions. Some participants, such as 21-year-old Kim Han Bi, avoid AI, questioning its reliability, but many credit the technology with prompting a renewed interest in reading.